District 130 Honors Graduates of D.A.R.E. Program

Fifth graders at Whittier and Paul Revere Intermediate Schools in Blue Island took the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) pledge to stay off drugs as they graduated from the nine week program in mid December. This year millions of students around the world will benefit from D.A.R.E., the highly acclaimed program that gives students the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. Founded in Los Angeles in 1983, D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches students how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.

Led by Officer LaSalle King of the Blue Island Police Department, the program taught students the importance of making good decisions and staying drug free in order to become successful adults. The requirements to graduate from the D.A.R.E. program include participation, completing a workbook, and writing an essay. King also stressed the importance of parent involvement and reinforcing the program at home.

At both graduation ceremonies, essay winners read their winning pieces aloud, a select group of students were chosen by their peers to receive the D.A.R.E. Character Award, and the presentation of certificates capped off each ceremony. Parents, Board members, and administrators were also on hand to congratulate the graduates.

“There is no greater reward any officer can receive,” said King when addressing the graduates about his experience teaching the D.A.R.E. program. “This is the best assignment I’ve ever had.”